Casting guide
I Ching Coin Method: How Three Coins Work
The three-coin method is the simplest physical way to cast the I Ching. Toss three coins six times from the bottom line upward, score each throw, and read the resulting primary hexagram, changing lines, and relating hexagram.
Quick answer
How the three-coin method works
Toss three coins six times, always from the bottom line upward. Add the values of each throw to produce 6, 7, 8, or 9. A 6 is changing yin, 7 is stable yang, 8 is stable yin, and 9 is changing yang. After six lines, read the primary hexagram first, then the changing lines, then the relating hexagram.
See one throw become a line
Use the same score each time. On this site, heads adds 3 and tails adds 2. Three coins then produce one of four possible line totals.
Heads = 3
The heads face contributes 3 to the throw total.
Tails = 2
The tails face contributes 2 to the throw total.
6 · Old Yin
Three tails. A broken line that is changing and will turn into yang.
Line meaning in reading
Yielding has reached a turning point. The line is broken now, but it is already moving toward yang.
7 · Young Yang
Two tails and one head. A stable solid line.
Line meaning in reading
Firm, active, and stable. The line remains solid and holds its current strength.
8 · Young Yin
Two heads and one tail. A stable broken line.
Line meaning in reading
Receptive, containing, and stable. The line remains broken and does not change.
9 · Old Yang
Three heads. A solid line that is changing and will turn into yin.
Line meaning in reading
Active force is reaching its turning point. The line is solid now, but it is already moving toward yin.
Cast the six lines in order
- Ask one clear question. Use an open question that names the situation instead of demanding certainty.
- Throw the coins once. Record the first result as the bottom line.
- Repeat five more times. Build the figure upward until the sixth line becomes the top line.
- Mark any 6 or 9. Those are the changing lines that create the relating hexagram.
- Read the primary figure first. Then read the changing lines and the resulting direction.
Coins versus yarrow stalks
The coin method is faster and simpler. It gives old yin and old yang equal probability. The yarrow-stalk method uses a different probability pattern: old yin is rarer, stable yin is more common, and the overall feel is slower and more weighted.
Common coin-method mistakes
- Recording the first throw as the top line instead of the bottom line.
- Forgetting that 6 and 9 are the changing lines, while 7 and 8 are stable.
- Treating the arithmetic as the whole reading and skipping the interpretation sequence.
- Recasting immediately because the first result felt inconvenient.
FAQ
Is the coin method traditional?
Yes. It is widely used, even though the yarrow-stalk method is older. The coin method became popular because it is much easier to learn and repeat.
Can I use any three coins?
Yes. The coins do not need to be special. What matters is using a consistent scoring method and recording the six throws in the correct order.
Do I need physical coins?
No. Physical coins create a tactile ritual, but a transparent digital coin method is valid if it preserves the same line logic and you still approach the reading attentively.
Why do I read from the bottom upward?
Because the hexagram is built from the ground up. The first throw establishes the foundation of the situation and the sixth throw completes it.
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